"You don't need to be perfect to succeed."
~•~
Nox's POV
Saturday Morning, I was walking in the school hallway when I saw Athenna. "Hey." I greeted her.
"H-hey." She replied.
"Thank you." I said.
"For what?"
"For last night." Tinignan ko sya ng nakangiti.
A bright smile curved into her face while intently looking at me. "There you go Mr. Ice boy."
"Silly."
"Did you see it guys?" Someone mumbled.
"We all saw it." They all said in chorus.
"Whatever." I replied.
"So what are you doing here Nox?" Tanong ni Kairon. They're all confuse, today is supposedly for club registration day.
"I thought about it. I'm trying to register in your club." I stated.
"I thought you're not interested?" He asked.
"Well. Someone changed my mind." Ani ko habang naka tingin kay Athenna. Kita ko naman ang pigil ngiting mukha ng mga kasama ko.
"Anong Meron sa inyo?" Tanong ni Sam habang tila naniningkit ang mata nito. Natatawa na lang ang ilan. Hindi ako sumagot, instead, tinignan ko ulit si Athenna.
"Hey, I texted Tita Arianne, I told her that I'll drive you home later." Sabi ko sabay lakad papalayo. I can hear them gasping. They're weird.
Athenna's POV
"Hey, I texted Tita Arianne, I told her that I'll drive you home later." Ani nito na syang nagpagulat sa akin. What? Where did he get my mom's number?
"What's going on with you two?" Tanong naman ni Nico.
"Something's fishy~" gatong pa ni Kairon. "Didn't you notice? Although cold padin sya, I think he's slowly showing his emotions. And the thing is...he's with you when he does that." Dagdag pa nito.
"Nothing's going on." Ani ko. Habang naka tingin sa papalayong pigura ni Nox. Bakit nga ba sya ganoon all of a sudden? Is it because of what I've said? Is he finally showing who he really is? Because if yes, that would be great. I smiled at the thought.
"Something's really fishy with you two. What's with the smile?" Kairon mumbled.
"Come on. Sundan na natin sya. We still need to check the registration. Athenna, come with us." Nico said.
"Yeah I will. Mag reregister din ako sa club." Ani ko.
Habang naglalakad kami ay bigla ko na lamang napansin, wait. Did something happened?
"Athenna, you're spacing out." Sabi ni Sam.
"U-uhm sorry. May naalala lang." I replied. We continued walking. How come that I did not notice kanina?
"Nox!" I shouted.
Lumingon naman ito, wearing his famous cold expression and serious look. Uh, I must admit. He's scary.
"What?" He asked.
Tumakbo naman ako papalapit sa kanya. "What happened to your face?" I asked.
He touched his lips, "It's nothing."
"Nothing?" I mumbled.
"Yep. Nothing to worry." He replied.
I just looked at him with a confused yet worried expression. I guess he felt uneasy kaya nagsalita ito. "Look Athenna. It's really nothing, no need to worry. Okay?" He assured me. Siningkitan ko sya ng mata bago ako tumango.
"Why do you have to be so cute?" Heeard him whispering but I cannot clearly understand it.
"Pardon?"
"Nothing. I'll fill this up then I'll drive you home right after." He said. Tumalikod ito at bumalik sa ginagawa nya. Ako naman ay nag fill up narin ng form para sa club. We're both entering the Asterians.
"I'm done." He said.
"I'm not yet done."
"I'll wait." Sabi nito. He's patiently watching me and it's kinda awkward for me. "Don't look at me." I said.
"I won't." He replied.
"I said stop looking at me." Ani ko.
"I'm not." Patay malisyang sabi nito.
"You are."
"I'm not."
"Saan ka nakatingin?" Tanong ko.
"On your paper." He said.
"Why?" I groaned.
"Your name's cute. Athenna Delos Reyes." Sabi nito. "But it'll be very wonderful if you'll use my surname." Dagdag pa nito bago tumalikod at umalis.
What did he just say? Me? Using his surname? Geez. "I'll wait for you in the car." Pahabol na sabi pa nito.
.
Moments had passed, I saw myself sitting beside him in his car. I'm slowly getting used with the defeating silence. Mas okay ng di sya magsalita. Tila kabisado nya na agad ang daan papunta sa amin.
"Are you mad?" He asked, without looking at me. His eyes are glued on the road.
"I'm not." I responded.
"Then why are you quiet?"
"Ewan?" Ani ko. Bakit nga ba ko tahimik? Narinig ko naman ang malakas na tawa nito. Wait, what the heck.
"Pinagtatawanan mo ba ko?" Pagsusungit ko.
"Alright, I'm sorry. It's just that you're really funny." Sabi nito. When I thought that he's going to turn left, I'm wrong. Dere-deretso sya sa kabilang daan papalayo sa aming village.
"Where are we going?"
"Going to buy some food." He said.
"Why?"
"I cannot visit Tita Arianne empty handed." Sabi nito na syang kinangiti ko nalang. Despite of his coldness, he still has this good side in him.
Minutes later, he parked his car in front of our house. Lumabas naman si mama para salubungin kami.
"Oh hijo, what brings you here?" She asked while hugging Nox.
"Visiting you?" Tila nahihiyang sabi nito.
"Ako nga ba talaga ang binibisita?" Tila nang aasar naman na sambit ni mama. Habang ako, palipat lipat ng tingin sa kanila. Naguguluhan sa nangyayari.
"O-of course tita." He said while rubbing the back of his neck, his eats are turning red too. I mentally laugh with a thought na Nox's blushing. "I brought you a strawberry cake." Sabi nito.
"Nag abala ka pa hijo, sa loob na tayo mag kuwentuhan." Sabi nito at nauna ng pumasok sa loob.
"Your mom is a bright lady. You're lucky." He said.
"I am. But wait Nox-"
"I lied. She doesn't know that I'm going to drive you home." He smiled at me, a genuine one before leaving me dumbfounded.
H-he's weird. He really is.
BINABASA MO ANG
That One Real Smile
RandomA story about friendship, bravery, courage, dreams, hope and life. Desperate for his father's attention and support, Nox blamed his father for what happened to him. Until he met a girl named Athenna who taught him how to forgive and how to love. He...
